Temple Secrets: Southern Humorous Fiction: (New for 2015) For Lovers of Southern Authors and Southern Novels by Susan Gabriel

Author:Susan Gabriel [Gabriel, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: Southern fiction
Publisher: Wild Lily Arts
Published: 2015-03-02T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Rose

Rose mingles in the living room, receiving condolences, hearing more perfunctory comments about how wonderful her mother was, knowing full well that nobody believes it. Her mother was not sweet or caring, nor will she be greatly missed. She was, as Queenie would say, a royal pain in the backside, to friends and foes alike.

In fact, it wouldn’t surprise Rose if there were an after-party following the reception where these same mourners celebrated having her mother finally gone. But in the meantime, Rose thanks them for their condolences and tells them each how fondly her mother spoke of them, proving she can lie as well as anybody.

At the same time, it strikes her as one of the few times her mother might have been proud of her for being a Temple. Rose is acting. She is onstage. She is playing the good daughter, the gracious hostess. And her mother, the main critic in her life, is not around to judge her for her performance. Or is she? All afternoon, she has had a distinct feeling of being watched.

Edward enters the living room and goose flesh crawls up Rose’s arm. He greets several men from the country club and shakes hands like a politician trying to win votes. He is acting, too. A slight smile remains plastic on his face, mixed with an appropriate tinge of grief. He turns and walks in her direction.

“Shit,” she says, under her breath.

Her first instinct is to duck into the kitchen, but it’s too late. She doesn’t want to give Edward the pleasure of seeing her retreat. Not that she could make a quick exit anyway, after all she has eaten. Her stomach feels like a shrimp trawler after a big haul.

“Hello, little sister,” Edward says. His smile holds firm through capped and gritted teeth.

“Hello, Edward,” Rose says, with a shiver. Is it suddenly colder in here?

“How long do you plan on staying in Savannah?” Edward asks.

“I’ll be taking an early flight out tomorrow,” she says.

Edward sips his drink. Rose has forgotten how freely the alcohol flows in Savannah.

One day at a time, she tells herself. However, this is turning into a very long day.

“So were you with our dear mother when she passed?” Edward asks. He glances around the room.

“As a matter of fact, I was,” Rose says.

“I hope I didn’t miss anything,” Edward says. His gaze turns to Rose, an eyebrow raised.

“Not a thing,” Rose says, without expression.

“By the way, where’s that cowboy husband of yours?” Edward says.

Does he even remember Max’s name? she wonders. “He’s back at the ranch,” she says.

Edward extends his smile, as though he finds someone working on a ranch amusing. The less information Rose gives her brother the better. Otherwise, he will find a way to use it against her. It is a gift he has. Edward even blamed Rose for the accident with the sword when they were children. He told her parents that it was Rose’s idea that they play Cowboys and Indians and her idea that he get the sword from the weapons case.

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